Hunting Gems in a Pegmatite

A pegmatite is the host rock for many gemstones that are not found any where else along with a host of other rare minerals.  The stone itself is an intrusive igneous rock that chemically is the same as granite in fact one of its nicknames is “Giant Granite” because of its large sized crystals.  Most pegmatites are what are termed simple pegmatites composed of quarts, feldspar and mica that are composed of grains that exceed 2.5 centimeters in size. There are however some other classes of pegmatites that are known as “Dirty Pegmatites” that contain a host of other minerals contaminating them with one of then being the lithium minerals lepidolite, a form of lithium mica that is purple, and spodumene, lithium silicate.  It is in these pegmatites where most gemstones are found.

An "X" shaped cross of pegmatite in a darker colored gneiss.
Photo by Arlette 1

Most gemstones in a pegmatite are found in cavities that are formed inside the pegmatite where there is not a sufficient amount of material to completely close the inside of the vain leading an open space where clean crystals are formed. There are also other areas within the pegmatite where it is possible for gemstones to form the subsequent deposits usually cause these particular stones to be imperfect.

A set of rubbelite crystals from the Pala District of San Diego County, California.
Photo by Rob Lavinsky

Most of these pockets or vugs are found in association a particular rock texture called graphic granite where the vug is found to beneath a layer of graphic granite where the individual crystals displayed keep getting larger. Graphic granite resembles cuneiform writing like that used in ancient Babylon.

There are many different gemstones that are associated with pegmatites including: amblygonite, beryl, corundum, fluorite, topaz and tourmaline among others. Pegmatites are the home of many other exotic minerals that are not classified as gemstones, however some of these minerals are used for ores for lesser-known metals like beryllium, niobium and tantalum. 

Beryl Crystals on dolomite.
Photo by Rob Lavinsky

Several years ago a roadbuilding contractor was working in Oxford County Maine when in the course of blasting a rough cut discovered a crystal of tantalite weighing several tons. Rather than just dumping it with the rest of the rock he sold the tantalite for a not-for-profit that it paid for the entire roadbuilding project. He simply pocketed the profit.

A crystal of tantalite in a pegmatite matrix.
Photo by Rob Lavinsky

Pegmatites are found all over the world wherever you have crystalline rocks. Some of the notable pigmented to the United States are found in the Appalachian Mountains, the Black Hills, the Rocky Mountains into the Pala district in San Diego County, California.